The nations of the Maghreb, also
known as Northwest Africa.
Liberte, Algeria
North Africa Nothing But 'Butter in the
Eyes' of Bush
"As for the idea of doing a tour, such a thing surely
hasn't even crossed his mind … Everyone knows the important role that Saudi
Arabia and Egypt play in the politics of George Bush … but other countries in
the region are nothing but butter in the eyes of the White House boss."
By Abdelkamel K.
Translated
By Sandrine Ageorges
May
2, 2008
Algeria - Liberte - Home Page (French)
During his eight years of presence at the White House,
George W. Bush has rarely shown concern for the countries of the Maghreb, despite their strategic importance to U.S. policy
in the region.
Neither he nor his number two, nor his main
collaborator Condoleezza Rice, have made a visit - although they have made many trips to
neighboring countries. With the exception of former Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, whose missions were purely technical and military and who once made a
lightning tour to the Maghreb, the Bush Administration
has showed no real interest or consideration for the countries concerned.
It must be said that the occasions on which the tenant
of the Oval office has referred to North African states can be counted on the
fingers of one hand. As for the idea of doing a tour, such a thing surely
hasn't even crossed his mind. And yet important connections exist between the
United-States and these countries. While these ties differ from one country to
another, they are all certainly worthy of a bit more consideration.
With Algeria, the rapport that used to be based almost
entirely on economic issues has expanded to include collaboration in other
areas, particularly with regard to security. This is due chiefly to the
terrorist threat that emerged after the transformation of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat 
into the al-Qaeda of the Maghreb,
which has had ramifications for Morocco, Mauritania and in Tunisia.
As for Morocco, it has been considered a true ally of
Washington because it hosts U.S. military bases, to say nothing of the
large-scale trade relations between the two countries. Even Tunisia maintains a
significant relationship with Uncle Sam, especially since Zine
el-Abidine Benali came to power. Just to remind you, the
Tunisian President is a career soldier that was trained at the famed West Point
Military Academy.
And Libya is not to be outdone. Tripoli, which made great
efforts on the issue of human rights, has also renounced the use of weapons of
mass destruction in order to rejoin the family of nations.
Mauritania is well on the way to developing diplomatic
relations with Israel in order to win favor with the United States. And we
mustn't forget the importance of the operation to establish an American
military command in Africa (Africom).
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
But the fact remains that the Bush Administration
continues to ignore these five countries. The most senior American officials,
particularly, particularly the President, his number two Dick Cheney, and his
number three Condoleezza Rice, whose trips to the Middle-East and Iraq are
legion, have never deigned to make but one stop in Rabat, Tunis, Alger, Tripoli
or Nouakchott. These are mere sub-fifes that Deputy Secretaries of State like
David Welch, Nicholas Burns or John Negroponte usually visit
when in charge of specific missions in the region.
In any case, with the exception of Iraq, everyone
knows the important role that Saudi Arabia plays in the politics of George
Bush, as it remains Washington's gas pump; and Egypt, which is regarded as the
lynchpin of U.S.-Arab relations; but other countries in the region are nothing
but butter in the eyes of the White House boss. It remains to be seen whether
this is premeditated or due to a total immersion in the management of war, but
the American president and his close associates have neglected the Maghreb.
[Editor's Note: Reporters Without
Borders rates Algeria's media as "Situation Difficult "].
SEE ALSO:
Prensa Libre, Guatemala
EDITORIAL:
President
Colom Obtains Little
in
Meeting With Bush
http://worldmeets.us/prensalibre000017.shtml
[Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US May 4, 4:47pm]